BIOTECHNOLOGYThe
Alliance for Bio-Integrity, the International Center for Technology
Assessment, 22 individuals, and one synagogue are suing the FDA to require
safety testing and labeling of genetically engineered foods.

DDT had some problems (very long persistence), but it was never proven to be
a threat to birds. In 1966, U.S. Fish and Wildlife fed DDT to eagles for nearly
four months with no apparent ill effects to birds or eggs. Poultry fed DDT
produced normal eggs.

Please do not misunderstand. We are doing things better, and highly
persistent pesticides should be used very carefully. In addition to the DDT ban,
Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972. There have been tremendous
reductions in PCBs, mercury, and other industrial effluents in the water. Both
PCBs and mercury are known to have serious impacts on egg hatchability.

There is more to the story. What pesticide has probably saved more human
lives than all other pesticides combined? (Hint: the first two letters are DD)
Mosquitoes transmit malaria, and it is one of the most serious diseases in the
world (more than 300 million cases and up to 3 million deaths each year). DDT
has been very effective against mosquitoes. DDT is not the silver bullet for
malaria eradication, but it can play an important role in some programs.

From the Atlantic Monthly, Aug. 1997, "Rachel Carson's legacy is not
entirely positive," says Robert Gwadz, a malaria researcher at the NIH. "DDT is
one of the more benign pesticides known." It is certainly among the cheapest.
But it is banned or heavily restricted in most African nations, as in the United
States, and the alternatives, pyrethroid insecticides, are expensive.

There are two morals for today's story.

Moral #1: Ecological problems are not simple. DDT alone did not cause the
decline of the peregrine falcon, but it was an easy target. Peregrine falcons
and other species usually decline because we degrade their habitat in a variety
of ways. DDT and PCBs and mercury and motorboats
and development all played a role in the peregrine falcon's decline.
Unfortunately, it is much easier to rally the public against a pesticide than it
is to implement the broader, long-term changes needed to protect the
environment.

Moral #2: There are two sides to every story. DDT and many pesticides do
carry risks, but they can also provide tremendous benefits. Which of us would
let a child die of malaria because a pesticide may cause eggshell thinning?
There are groups today that want to incite the public against organophosphate
insecticides and eliminate them. They do not seem to say much about the benefits
of these pesticides (e.g., more food, greater variety, cheaper prices).

Children die every day in auto accidents, but no one wants to eliminate cars.
We do want the equipment to be safer, but the primary cause of automobile
accidents is the operator. As a result, we implement speed limits, seat belt
laws, etc.

Likewise, we want safer pesticides, but the operator is the key to pesticide
safety. We must improve applicator education. We should implement additional
safety regulations if they are needed to protect human health and the
environment. Applicators who cannot or will not use pesticides safely should not
be allowed to use them. We should consider long and carefully, however, before
we eliminate a useful tool (e.g., pesticide, chain saw, lawn mower, automobile,
etc.) simply because some operators use them unsafely.

Sources include news stories on peregrine falcon, the Atlantic
Monthly, and Saving the Planet with Pesticides and Plastic by D.
Avery.

Here is the new order of priorities. If the pesticide that you want to
register does not fit on this list, you may have a very long wait.

Methyl bromide alternatives

Organophosphate alternatives that pass reduced-risk criteria

Other reduced-risk pesticides

Organophosphate alternatives that are denied reduced-risk status but are
recommended for expedited review by the Reduced-Risk Committee

USDA-EPA identified potentially vulnerable crops

Minor use priorities

Non-minor use priorities

Addressing trade irritants

EPA PR-Notice 98-7

The EPA has released additional guidance
concerning what kinds of adverse pesticide effects must be reported to the
Agency.

Under 6(a)(2), the Agency requires pesticide registrants to report any
unreasonable adverse effects associated with their pesticide products (believe
it or not, companies do report these things). The new guidance provides detailed
instructions about what, when, and how adverse effects should be reported. If
you are a pesticide registrant, you need this information. Various trade
associations (American Crop Prot. Assoc., Chem. Manuf. Assoc., Chem. Prod. &
Distr., Internat. Sanitary Supply Co., Chem. Spec. Manuf. Assoc.) can provide
forms and more information.

EPA PR-Notice 98-4

By October 1, 1999, all total
release pesticide foggers with a flammability hazard will have to comply with
some additional labeling regulations.

Don't complain about what happens if you do not even bother to read it. You
would be surprised at how few comments the EPA receives and at the difference
your comments could make.

The proposed Federal consistency guidance describes (a) the States' role in
identifying Federal programs for consistency review, (b) the Federal obligation
to accommodate the concerns of the States in accordance with Executive Order
12372, (c) the criteria and methods for reviewing Federal assistance programs
and development projects for consistency with a State's nonpoint source
management program, and (d) EPA's role in assisting States and Federal agencies
with resolution of any conflicts which may arise. For more information, see http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/

Allergens from roaches can cause
serious health problems for people with asthma or other respiratory
conditions.

Roach feces, eggs, saliva, and body parts all contain the allergens.
Recently, scientists have also discovered that the allergens can persist for
five years or more.

A new non-pesticide technique has been developed to remove roaches and their
allergens. Terminix International and USDA have teamed up to invent a machine
that chases roaches out of hiding with hot air and vacuums up the roaches and
their allergens. (ARS/USDA, 6-98 via DC Pesticide Coordinator Report)

An apparent 35% increase in
malignant brain tumors among children is explained by better cancer-detection
equipment, not exposure to pesticides or other chemicals.

The increase was noted from 1973-1994. Much of the increase is probably due
to the widespread availability in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging
beginning in 1985. (J. of Nat. Cancer Institute, 9-2-98, via
Pestic. and Tox. Chem. News, 9-3-98)

In a nutshell, there are more than 86,000 chemicals (some are pesticides)
that may be having unwanted effects on the endocrine systems of humans and other
animals. We don't need to go into all of the possible impacts, but suffice it to
say that it could become difficult to tell which was the opposite sex.

The problem is that we do not know which chemicals will cause problems.
EDSTAC was trying to develop a reasonable screen. Here are the highlights of
their report.

Screen all pesticides and chemicals produced in quantities of greater than
10,000 lbs.

Ignore the 25,000 chemicals and polymers that are too big to affect the
endocrine system.

Prioritize the chemicals for which we do not have data to make a decision.

Begin testing chemicals with possible endocrine effects.

Begin hazard assessment for chemicals with known adverse endocrine
effects.

They want to make a list of substances that have endocrine effects and get
rid of all of them.

Their task is easier said than done, and it is somewhat foolish to announce a
ban before you even know what the compounds are. The report of the European
Parliament does not carry the weight of law, but it has quite a bit of support.
(Pestic. & Tox. Chem. News, 9-3-98)

According to Purdue researchers, 90% of fungicide is captured on the grass
blades, and the remaining 10% is tied up in the thatch layer. The University of
Florida reports that less than 0.1% of organophosphate pesticides were found in
leachates. Additionally, they reported that soil amendments can be used to
capture some leachable pesticides with no effect on the turf. The big difference
between a golf course and most row-crop agriculture is that the pesticides are
applied to turf rather than soil. (Pestic. & Tox. Chem. News,
9-3-98)

The most common technique varied by crop. Scouting and crop rotation were the
most common. From 75% to 80% of cotton, fruits/nuts, and vegetable acreage is
scouted. From 53-68% of barley, soybeans, alfalfa hay, and wheat acreage is
rotated to help manage pests.

If you want a copy of the report (1997 Pest Management Practices),
call 1-800-999-6779.

The Alliance for
Bio-Integrity, the International Center for Technology Assessment, 22
individuals, and one synagogue are suing the FDA to require safety testing and
labeling of genetically engineered foods.

The suit contends FDA is not fulfilling its mandate of protecting public
health and providing consumers with proper information about food. The suit
further raises concerns about food allergies. Finally, some of the individuals
claim that current FDA policy is an infringement upon religious freedom. '[The
policy] is in violation of basic principles of environmental ethics and is
disruptive of the divine plan.'

The FDA counters that traditional plant breeding can also produce the same
types of changes that occur in genetically engineered foods. The FDA would
require food additive approval if the resultant protein (from genetic
engineering) would be substantially different from the proteins we consume now.
The government also denied that genetically engineered foods contain important
levels of new allergens.

Keep an eye on this one folks. The advances in genetic engineering are
happening more quickly than we can evaluate them and their impacts on society.
Twenty years ago, cloning and genetic engineering were science fiction; test
tube babies were the controversial cutting edge. Twenty years from now, you may
be tired of saying, 'your son looks just like you.' As you can see, some of the
concerns go beyond simply eating. This case could set many precedents that will
determine the future course of genetic engineering. Also remember that some very
big players stand to lose large amounts of money if there are substantial new
restrictions on genetically engineered products.

The EPA and USDA want to have additional meetings, but the public action
groups feel that additional meetings will only serve to delay implementation of
FQPA.

From the TRAC meeting I attended, the disparity in viewpoints among the
panelists will preclude the resolution of some key issues even if they meet
until doomsday. However, if another body makes decisions, some of the original
TRAC players will file lawsuits if the conclusions do not suit them.
Unfortunately, if the issues are resolved in court, they may hinge on legal
issues rather than science.

This item is the only thing about FQPA upon which everyone can agree. It
stinks. The brochure is supposed to educate consumers about the risks and
benefits of pesticides on foods. As you can imagine, the pesticide industry and
public action groups are a universe apart on the contents. The EPA will be
forced to produce a brochure that does not really say anything. This result is
OK, however, because consumers are not going to read it, and groceries are not
going to distribute them anyway. In a rare oversight, Congress mandated EPA to
produce such a brochure, but supermarkets do not have to distribute them. Do you
think that any major grocer will post a brochure that makes the consumer think
that the food may not be safe?

The Consumers Union is calling for
EPA to eliminate 40 pesticide/crop combinations in the next two
years.

According to the Union, eliminating these 40 combinations will decrease risks
95%. They also postulate that growers have plenty of viable alternatives because
less than half of fruit and vegetable acreage is not treated with
organophosphates. Finally, they insist that U.S. growers would not suffer and
could even benefit in some cases.

I do not agree with all of the CU's points. Some of their underlying
assumptions seem flawed. Just because all of the vegetable acreage is not
treated with an organophosphate does not mean they are unnecessary. Some parts
of the country may not need a particular chemical because they do not have that
key pest. Georgia no longer sprays for boll weevil, but we do not advocate
canceling boll weevil pesticides because other states still need them. Simply
because our food supply will not be disrupted will not prevent farmers from
going bankrupt. Growers can rarely pass along increased pest management costs
even if consumers would pay for it. The grocery supplier will simply buy a
cheaper product from other growers or other countries.

However, I do think that CU has the right idea. Let us determine what uses
really do contribute significant risks and concentrate our resources in those
areas. However, I would like for those risk assessments to be completed by the
scientists in EPA and USDA.

If you want to read the Consumers Union report, hit the Web (look at the
bottom of the page).

In what could be FQPA
fallout (bailout), both Lynn Goldman (assistant administrator of the Office
of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances) and Fred Hansen (EPA deputy
administrator) are on the way out.

The active ingredient is "Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate"'; it will be sold
as eKsPunge. It has to be registered in individual states as well.

The EPA has established an
exemption from tolerance for acrylic acid terpolymer, partial sodium salts when
used as inert ingredients (dispersant) in pesticide formulations
applied to growing crops, raw agricultural commodities after harvest, and
animals. (FR, 9-9-98)

Integrated Weed and Soil Management. 1998. J.L. Hatfield et al.
(eds.) Emphasizes integration of techniques to anticipate and manage weed
problems rather than reacting to them after they are present. To order, contact
Ann Arbor Press, 121 South Main St., Chelsea, Michigan 48118.

Fields of Change: A New Crop of American Farmers Finds Alternatives to
Pesticides looks at 22 farmers from 16 states who produce a wide variety of
fruits, vegetables, grains, cotton and dairy products. As recently as 15 years
ago, all of these farmers relied extensively on pesticides to manage insects,
weeds and diseases. In many cases, pesticides were applied prophylactically or
on a calendar basis without regard to the level of pest pressure or presence of
natural controls. In response to economic, environmental, health and/or ethical
concerns, each of the farmers profiled decided to experiment with alternative
practices.

If you want to know how they changed, get the report from NRDC. It may have
ideas for you. NRDC, Publications Dept., 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011
for US $14.00 plus US $3.00 shipping. (202) 289-1060; fax (202) 289-1060;
http://www.nrdc.org

Tobacco, Farmers and Pesticides: The Other Story by Ellen Hickey and
Yenyen Chan of PAN North America, is available on-line at the PANNA website; http://www.panna.org/panna

I have no idea what this report is about.

The Future of Food: Long-term Prospects for the Agro-food Sector.
1998. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Examines
trends in the food sector, makes projections for the world food supply in the
21st century and identifies variables and risks in future supply and demand.
OECD Washington Center, 2001 L St. N.W., Suite 650, Washington D.C. 20036-4922;
tel. (202) 785-6323; fax (202) 785-0350; email washcont@oecd.org

The following pesticide registrations will be canceled unless the request is
withdrawn by March 8, 1999. Existing stocks may be sold for one year, and
end-users may use all existing stocks according to the label.

The appearance of any trade name in this newsletter is not
intended to endorse that product nor convey negative implications of unmentioned
products.

Dear Readers:

The Georgia Pest Management Newsletter is a monthly journal for extension
agents, extension specialists, and others interested in pest management news. It
provides information on legislation, regulations, and other issues affecting
pest management in Georgia.

Do not regard the information in this newsletter as pest management
recommendations. Consult the Georgia Pest Control Handbook, other
extension publications, or appropriate specialists for this information.

Your input in this newsletter is encouraged.

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